Debate the Indianapolis Colts’ offseason needs in The Football Fan Forum
2010 Preview:
The Colts have become synonymous with consistency in the NFL. They did exactly what they needed to do this offseason, resign their free agents, most notably Gary Brackett, and draft well. Some of their mid round draft picks were head scratchers for me a bit, but their first round pick of Jerry Hughes was brilliant. This team may actually be better this year. They really lacked defensive end depth last year behind the starters Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. When Freeney was hurt in the Super Bowl, they struggled and consequently lost. With Hughes, lack of depth is no longer an issue.
Their offense should be as good as we have come to expect it to be and this team should once again be among the best in the league. Barring a Peyton Manning injury, I would be very surprised if this team didn’t win 12 or more games once again. I can’t guarantee a Super Bowl or even another Super Bowl appearance for this team because there’s no shortage of talented teams who could beat them in a single playoff game this year, but fortunately for Colts fans, we can all expect more of the same from Peyton and co. I would go as far as to say that they’re the favorites heading into this season.
Projection: 13-3 1st in AFC South
Power Ranking: 1
Last season: 14-2
Draft:
#31 DE Jerry Hughes (TCU)
Hughes is a bit undersized, but he’s one of the best pass rushers in this draft class and the Colts have had success in the past with undersized overacheiving ends like Hughes. He won’t be much more than a great nickel rusher in his first year, but with Robert Mathis being a free agent in 2011, this pick makes a lot of sense. Even if he resigns, Hughes was too good to pass on and would be very solid depth.
Grade: A
#63 MLB Pat Angerer (Iowa)
Angerer fits their scheme well and was a hell of a college player, but with Charles Brown, who could have been their left tackle of the future still available, taking a talented backup for Gary Brackett, who they just brought back on a longterm deal, seems unimportant, even if he could possibly play other positions.
Grade: C
#94 CB Kevin Thomas (USC)
Thomas certainly has the physical upside to be drafted this high, but he was extremely inconsistent and injury prone in college and the Colts drafted a lot of good cornerbacks last year so I don’t see the huge need here.
Grade: D
#129 G Jacques McClendon (Tennessee)
I didn’t have McClendon getting drafted so I think it’s certainly a reach and I don’t think he fits the scheme well, but I can’t say it wasn’t a need.
Grade: D
#162 TE Brody Eldridge (Oklahoma)
Eldridge has good physical upside, but he only caught 9 passes in 4 years at Oklahoma and tight end was not a need at all for the Colts with Dallas Clark and Tom Santi on the roster.
Grade: F
#238 DT Ricardo Matthews (Cincinnati)
He’s undersized at defensive tackle, but they’ve done well with undersized players before and Matthews is the high motor player they like. They needed defensive tackle help badly even if Fili Moala were to pan out and Matthews is a good value.
Grade: A
#240 OLB Kavell Conner (Clemson)
Another great value and perfect fit, Conner could be a future starter for this team in the future, which is something I don’t say about 7th rounders very often.
Grade: A
#246 CB Ray Fisher (Indiana)
Fisher was not a guy I had on my top 300 prospects, but that’s okay, it’s the late 7th round. However, if Thomas didn’t fill a need, then this guy certainly didn’t either.
Grade: D
Overall:
This was disappointing for me in terms of what I normally expect from the Colts draft. They had a lot of bad picks in my eyes, but they also had some very good ones. They may have acquired 2 future starters in the 7th round and Hughes is a great value and, with Mathis and Freeney, he will make AFC South quarterbacks crap their pants in fear. However, I really didn’t like the Angerer, Thomas, McClendon, and Eldridge picks.
Grade: C+
Key undrafted free agents
WR Blair White (Michigan State)
QB Tim Hiller (Western Michigan)
CB Mike Newton (Buffalo)
RB Jarvarris James (Miami)
RB Brandon James (Florida)
K Brett Swenson (Michigan State)
Positions of need:
Defensive Tackle:
Fili Moala was drafted in the 2nd round last year, but only had 8 tackles last year, 5 in games where they weren’t even trying (surprise!). Even if by some miracle he pans out, they would still need an upgrade next to him. The Colts notoriously ignore the defensive tackle position for offensive upgrades, but they are going to find it hard to upgrade anything on this offensive, because of how good they were last year. Brian Price and Jared Odrick won’t slip past them at 31. I would be very surprised if they didn’t upgrade this position in the first 3 rounds.
Drafted Ricardo Matthews (#238)
Middle Linebacker:
Gary Brackett had a great season, but he’s a free agent and I have a feeling he might not be back next season. Actually, there’s a pretty good chance they won’t pay him the money he wants. If he leaves, they’ll look for a middle linebacker who fits the scheme, like Daryl Washington, in the 2nd round range. If he stays, they’ll still look for depth guys.
Resigned Gary Brackett, Drafted Pat Angerer (#63)
Offensive Tackle:
Charlie Johnson did a decent job this year as a left tackle, but he’s a restricted free agent this offseason and could be upgraded. The Colts always like to take best available so Charles Brown could be an option at 31, as could Jason Fox, Jared Veldheer, and Roger Saffold in the 2nd round.
Signed Adam Terry
Outside Linebacker:
The Colts’ always like to look for linebacker help in the mid rounds, but they don’t have a lot of talent at the position right now so they could look for linebackers earlier this year than normal. Daryl Washington would make a ton of sense because of his versatility.
Drafted Kavell Conner (#240)
Offensive Guard:
The Colts’ could run a lot better if they upgraded their interior linemen. They run a zone blocking scheme so they could look for the most athletic and offensive guard. Mike Johnson could be an option in the 2nd round and Jon Asamoah could be an option in the 3rd round.
Drafted Jacques McClendon (#129)
Defensive End:
Robert Mathis will be a free agent in 2011 so they could look for young talented depth at the position this year so they wouldn’t have to look for replacements next year. They always look for best available so they could really look for this position as early as the first round, with a guy like Brandon Graham or Everson Griffen at 31.
Drafted Jerry Hughes (#31)
Free agents:
QB Jim Sorgi- signed with Giants
RB Chad Simpson- signed with Bills
WR Hank Baskett (restricted)- not tendered, signed with Eagles
WR Roy Hall
OT Charlie Johnson (restricted)- tendered (2nd)
OT Daniel Federkeil (restricted)
G Ryan Lilja- signed with Chiefs 3 years
DT Daniel Muir (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.7 million
DT Antonio Johnson (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.6 million
DE Raheem Brock
OLB Tyjuan Hagler (restricted)
#6 MLB Gary Brackett- resigned 5 years 33 million
Undersized at 5-11 235, but a very smart player with excellent leadership abilities and good consistency with at least 99 tackles in each of the last 5 years. The Colts appear to be the front runners to resign him, but there’s a chance he doesn’t. The biggest issue with him is lack of scheme versatility. I don’t think he can play a 3-4.
MLB Freddie Keiaho (restricted)- resigned with Jaguars 1 year
CB Marlin Jackson (restricted)- signed with Eagles 2 years
CB Tim Jennings (restricted)- not tendered, signed with Bears 2 years
CB TJ Rushing (restricted)
CB Nick Graham (restricted)
S Antoine Bethea (restricted)- resigned 4 years 27 million
S Melvin Bullitt (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.6 million
S Aaron Francisco (restricted)- not tendered, signed with Panthers
# refers to Unrestricted Free Agent Ranking
Offseason moves:
Colts sign CB Deshea Townsend
Colts claim QB Tom Brandstater
Colts re-sign S Antoine Bethea
Colts waive WR Roy Hall
Colts re-sign OT Charlie Johnson
Colts re-sign DT Antonio Johnson
Colts re-sign S Melvin Bullitt
Colts re-sign DT Daniel Muir
Colts waive RB Chad Simpson
Colts sign OT Adam Terry
Colts cut G Ryan Lilja
Colts sign G Andy Alleman
Colts cut QB Jim Sorgi
Colts re-sign MLB Gary Brackett
Colts tender OT Charlie Johnson
Colts tender S Melvin Bullitt
Colts tender S Antoine Bethea
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